MAY. sy 



prickly appendages are few and small ; while 

 on the plants which flourish on a soil whose 

 suljstratum is gravel, they are very strong and 

 sharp. 



On similar places to that on which the rest- 

 harrow flourishes, the low juniper is often 

 found. The common juniper {Junijienis com- 

 munis) now bears its bloom. In England, it 

 grows on sandy, or chalky soils, or on open 

 downs ; but it is a ])laut common to the whole 

 of Northern Europe, and, in some countries, is 

 abundant on high mountains. In Sweden and 

 Norway, it is applied to a variety of domestic 

 purposes. In Norway — that land of good 

 housewifery — the bowls of the dairy are daily 

 washed with a decoction of the juniper branch, 

 which is remarkably effectual in keeping them 

 sweet. Then the Norwegian dame strews the 

 young tops of the juniper over her floors, as 

 our country people strew the sand on theirs ; 

 and the juniper is regularly sold in the streets 

 for this use. When about to consign to the 

 dust the remains of the dead, the juniper twigs 

 are scattered plentifully from their houses to 

 the church-yard, and a number of its green 

 sprigs thrown on and around the grave ; and 

 the twi'is mav be seen Ivino; on many a tomb, 

 still keeping their greenness long after they 

 were strewn there by the hand of love and 

 friendship. The Swedes make a conserve of 

 the berries, and eat it in their meals : they 

 also drink juniper beer, and take the plant 

 medicinally. In Germany, the berries are used 



